Golsby found guilty on all counts for the murder of OSU student Reagan Tokes

by Lisa Rantala

After deliberating for five hours, the jury has found the man accused of killing OSU student Reagan Tokes guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. (WSYX/WTTE)

COLUMBUS, Ohio —

After deliberating for five hours, the jury has found the man accused of killing OSU student Reagan Tokes guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

A jury found Brian Golsby unanimously guilty on all 18 counts and specifications for the robbery, kidnapping, rape and murder of Tokes, on what would've been her 23rd birthday. The conviction now enters the death penalty phase to determine if he'll be sentenced to death or life in prison.

Tuesday started with closing arguments in the case. The mother, father and little sister of victim Reagan Tokes all sat in the front row.

Prosecutors took out the gun they say was used to kill the OSU senior after she was carjacked last February. She had just left work at the Bodega Cafe in the Short North.

“He had her for two hours thinking what he’s going to do to her,” Assistant Prosecutor Jennifer Rausch said in her closing statements. She said DNA indicates Golsby raped his victim as GPS coordinates from his ankle bracelet showed he was with Tokes at several bank ATMs. Prosecutors said he forced her to take out cash.

Prosecutors told the jury Golsby shot his Tokes twice in the head at Scioto Grove Metro Park to cover up that night of terror.

(Mobile users can watch here)

“(She said) All I want to do is live,” Rausch stayed. “She went along with everything he asked her to do. All I want to do is live.”

After calling no witnesses, Golsby’s defense then told the jury he did commit the crime.

However, they said Tokes’ death was neither calculated or designed.

“Why else would he kill her?” Defense attorney Diane Menashe asked the jury. “Well, because he was scared.”

Menashe said Golsby’s actions should not lead to an aggravated murder conviction with a death penalty specification.